Improved process of tanning



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. MULLER, OF RIOHMONDVILLE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED PROCESS OF TANNING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,790, dated November 26, 1861.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN M. MULLER, ot' Bichmondville, in the county of Schoharie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tanning Leather; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to an improvementiu tanning leather whereby the work may be very expeditiously done and leather of avery superior quality produced.

The invention consists in using a decoctiou of common tansy and hemlock or oak bark, as follows I use from two (2) to four (4) ounces of tansy and about four (4) pounds of hemlock or oak bark for every hide to be tanned. The hides are placed in the liquor, and are handled once a day for four days. The hides are then placed in fresh liquor and allowed to remain therein for three days. The hides do not require to be handled the threelast days or after being placed in the fresh liquor, which is precisely the same as the first.

This is the whole process, and it will be seen that the time required for performing the work is extremely short, seven days being sufficient for ordinary calf-skins. Heavy hides may remain in the liquor a few days longer, if necessary. Sheep-skins can be tanned in two days. Tansy, besides tannin, possesses an oil which is extremely nourishing to leatherthat is to say,it imparts pliability toit-ett'ectually preventing it from cracking. The tanning properties of hemlock and oak bark are well known, and are in common use among tanners, and they perform their usual function in this process. Either bark may be used.

Although I have described in the process that two liquors are used, the second being applied on the fifth day, still this is not essentially necessary in order to obtain good leather. It is, however, more profitable for the tanner to use two liquors, as the leather thereby receives more oil and its weight is proportionately increased.

I would remark that the liquor formed of hemlock or oak bark and tansy does not sour, and hence may be used indefinitely, the diminution caused by the absorption of it by the leather being supplied from time to time by fresh liquor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment or use, for the tanning of leather, of tansy, in combination with hemlock or oak bark, substantially as set forth.

J. M. MULLER.

Witnesses:

W. G. LAMONT, J OEL GoNYL. 

